Our Women's Re-Inspiration Program is Heading South...

In the U.S., there are 370,000 highly-educated stay-at-home moms. 70% of them say that they'd like to re-enter the workforce, but would prefer to do so in a flexible, fulfilling role rather than the traditional roles they left.

The reason most of them haven't gone back in yet? There's a gap...but not in skills or education. Instead, these women lack an understanding of how their skills might align with potential employers, the confidence to transition into a new sector, and a concrete network of potential organizations they might want to work for.

We set out to design a program that not only provided clarity, confidence, and connections, but that also provided inspiration-- an intangible sense of meaning that actually makes employees 225% more productive, according to this Bain study.

How do we do this?

-Social Sector Employers: There's a whole new economy of companies on a mission. In lieu of traditional methods of philanthropy, social enterprises harness the power of capitalism--and the skills of private sector professionals-- to simultaneously solve a social problem and turn a profit. These double-bottom line businesses require employees with a broad set of skills, and the women in our programs represent a diverse and versatile talent pool. Given the ever-evolving staffing needs of growing companies, they are a great hire for dynamic and cost-conscious social sector companies who are more likely to have opportunities for flexible work that is also fulfilling because of its greater social impact.

- Taking Teaching out of the Classroom: Instead of meeting in a stuffy classroom, we meet in the workplaces of innovative social companies. Our participants get exposure to today's modern workplaces, which have a look and feel notably different from where they started our careers. We feature panel discussions, practical workshops, and conversations with industry experts. These experts share their real-world experiences on trends, best practices, and an inside perspective on work in the sector.

What next?

After running three successful cohorts of the program in NYC, we've targeted North Carolina as the first location for the program's geographic expansion. With a unique and rich history, NC's Research Triangle provides a rich educational and industrial infrastructure that has created both a large population of women who are interested in social enterprise and an innovative social impact community.

Applications are now open for a four-day entry program that will start in the Triangle in September 2016. After completing the program, the participants will be granted ongoing access to Inspiring Capital's NC network of potential employers, other alumnae, and inspiring social impact organizations. As women in the area send their children back to school this upcoming Labor Day, many of them will also embark on a new educational experience of their own, leading to a newly re-inspired workforce of professional women in the Triangle next year.